The West Holmes tennis team was 7-9 last season, and Coach Jason Otto said while an OCC title might be a two team race, they are looking to compete for fourth.
“Goals for this year: improve and compete in the middle of the pack in the OCC,” Coach Kevin Patterson and Assistant Coach Josh Otto told the Mount Vernon News.
They added that they will be battling it out with the likes of Mount Vernon, Madison and New Philadelphia ,while Lexington and Wooster vie for the top spot. Hiland and Triway are also local rivals they’ll be competing with, and tend to be even matches.
Returning players include seniors Jacob Miller, who went 7-6 last year; Max Baker who was 6-15; and Wyatt Carter who went 2-14. Alex Pringle also returns after a 10-9 season. Sami Latouf went 10-10, Terrance Miler was 5-11 and Alex Zhaag was 3-7 to round out the returners. Memphis Jones is the team’s lone newcomer to the Knights.
Patterson is in his second year coaching, and he was the assistant the year before when they had more than 10 wins and two district qualifiers. He said his coaching philosophy is to “get out there and stroke the ball and move forward.” Patterson believes that in order to succeed and get above the .500 mark, their practice mindset needs to match their play on their court.
“They need to learn how to play points because they know how to hit the ball in practice,” Patterson said.
2024 schedule
3/25 vs. Norwayne, 4:30 p.m.
3/26 vs. Orrville, 4:30 p.m.
3/27 vs. Hiland, 4:30 p.m.
4/2 vs. Lexington, 4:30 p.m.
4/9 vs. Ashland, 4:30 p.m.
4/10 at Dover, 3 and 4:30 p.m.
4/11 at Mansfield Senior, 3 and 4:30 p.m.
4/12 at Cloverleaf, 3 and 4:30 p.m.
4/13 at Orrville Invitational, 7:45 a.m. and 9 a.m.
4/15 vs. Zanesville, 4:30 p.m.
4/16 at Madison Comprehensive, 3 and 4:30 p.m.
4/17 vs. Massillon Washington, 4:30 p.m.
4/18 vs. Claymont, 4:30 p.m.
4/20 at Dover International, 7:15 a.m. and 9 a.m.
4/22 at Cambridge, 3 and 4:30 p.m.
4/23 at Mount Vernon, 3 and 4 p.m.
4/24 vs. Clear Fork, 4:30 p.m.
4/25 vs. New Philadelphia, 4:30 p.m.
4/26 vs. Coshocton, 4:30 p.m.
4/29 at Triway, 3 and 4:15 p.m.
4/30 vs. Wooster, 4:30 p.m.
5/1 at OCC Championship
